US sanctions 2 top North Korean ballistic missile officials

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reacts with Ri Pyong Chol (L), in This specific undated photo released by North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on May 15, 2017.

The United States on Tuesday sanctioned two top North Korean officials involved inside rogue state’s ballistic missile development programs.

The brand new sanctions follow the adoption on Friday of a United Nations Security Council resolution of which imposed harsh brand new restrictions on the country in response to its Nov. 28 missile test. North Korea called Friday’s sanctions an act of war.

“Treasury is actually targeting leaders of North Korea’s ballistic missile programs, as part of our maximum pressure campaign to isolate the DPRK along with achieve a fully denuclearized Korean Peninsula,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement.

The two individuals sanctioned on Tuesday often appear with North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un, in photos along with videos. An article coming from Reuters in May called Kim Jong Sik along with Ri Pyong Chol, as well as a third, Jang Chang Ha, “clearly Kim’s favorites.”

The Treasury Department said Tuesday of which Kim Jong Sik is actually reportedly a key figure in North Korea’s attempts to switch coming from liquid to solid fuel, which could allow North Korea to launch missiles with less warning.

Ri is actually a former air force general who experts have said is actually key to the country’s missile programs.